Got friends, a camcorder, a decent movie editing application, and a few hours? This article will give you a few tips and ideas for how to script, film, and edit a movie.

Steps

Method1

Planning the Movie

1

Be realistic. Because of the budget, don't expect this movie to be the greatest thing in film history. However, in spite of technical limitations, your imagination has none, so be open minded about what you can do. As long as it isn't extremely boring, your movie will be hilarious because of how "bad" it is.

Select the characters. Most every film has a star (or a few), a villain (or a few), a comic relief person who might also be a bit dimwitted, annoying or vain

Bonus: The movie can even have a plot; this will take a bit longer to work through but can make it more enjoyable to watch.

3

Find or make suitable costumes. Root through your old clothes from Halloween, or just look in your dresser.

Sheets can make good ghosts and capes.

If you don't have a full body suit made out of aluminum for an alien, just wear some pants on your head and shoes on your hands.

Cardboard boxes can be cut and colored to look like all sorts of things from robots to crocodiles.

Ask adults for their clothes (but make sure they know what the clothes are being used for, in case the clothes get damaged).

4

Decide where to shoot the movie. Big parks with forests work well as they have plenty of space and lots of possibilities. The garden or back yard of your own home can also be suitable.

If you want to shoot inside, you'll need to know how to control the lighting well. This requires a bit more learning but can be a good idea, especially during the colder months or when it's raining.

Crowded cities aren't always great because people can walk in front of you. Or, they might distract your actors too much by staring.

If you have scenes where people a beating each other up or having a gunfight, bystanders might call the police. Choose a private place to shoot such scenes, or place big signs up saying "filming in progress" to reassure people.

5

Choose a designated director. The director shouldn't come into the shots. In the case of lack of helpers, this person should control the camera.

The director should know exactly what they want the actors to do and be the one calling (and filming) all the shots.

Method2

Shooting the Movie

1

Know some shooting technique dos and don'ts.

Shot Level 1: Filming from above: This technique reduces the status and stature of the actor being filmed and is not always recommended.

Shot Level 2: Filming from below: This often used technique raises the on screen status. If the actor's feet are spread and firm on the ground, it gives him more power and strength.

Shot Move 1: Zoom in: Used to focus in on one aspect or when an actor has an important thing they are saying/doing.

Shot Move 2: Zoom out: Used to give the viewer a wider picture of what is there.

Shot Move 3: Panning left and right: Another way to give the viewer of what is there.

(Shot moves 2 and 3 are also a way to distract you from what's happening in the place you just watched.)

Shot Move 4: Frame Action: Used if a good amount of action is happening that fulfills the need to move the camera.

Shot Move 5: Follow the Action: Used if the thing to focus on does not stay in the same place.

Shot Placement 1: Small: Zoomed into a specific part of an actor.

Shot Placement 2: Medium: About 2/3 of the actor, a little scenery.

Shot Placement 3: Full: The actor's full body and scenery.

Shot Placement 4: Over the shoulder: The shoulder of a person with their back to you and medium of another character facing them. Used if you don't want to see the shoulder's face.

2

To simulate a person traveling a bit, switch shots like the person walking away, then a shot of them coming towards you, then from the side.

3

Ensure that all of the acting cast is aware that they must wait for the director to say action and cut at the beginning and end of each scene. This is their cue to talk, move and finish up.

4

Repeatedly film a shot until you get it almost exactly as you want it. This will require at least two or more takes. Even then, you should probably do it one or two more times. With digital video, it's not like you're using up resources, although do be aware that you're using up people's time and your actors might get fed up after too many takes.

5

When editing a video, only choose the best take of each shot. Cut out the director's speech, and add the appropriate transitions to each scene, if there is any.

Method3

Making a Movie Using the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2

Brief: Making a movie using either the Tab 2 7.0 or the Tab 2 10.1 is a free way of making good quality videos. You'll need: Galaxy Tab 2, your actors, knowledge about the camera, video editor and video player and at least a few hours of free time.

1

Load up the camera. Use the rear-facing camera.

2

Select the video option.

3

Film your movie. Stop after you've finished filming each scene. Take a break––this refreshes the actors and gives you a chance to make set changes and to pick up on any actor-directed changes occurring as a result of improvising.

4

Continue filming until all scenes have been filmed

5

Once you're done, load up the app called Video Editor.

Click on the +

Select theme (optional)

Press Videos or Images

Click on the desired media twice to add it onto the timeline

Add effects (optional) and transition (again optional).

6

Save your movie and give it a title.

7

Load the menu.

8

Select Export.

9

Chose what quality you want. HD provides a better quality image but takes more storage space and longer to export than QCIF which is quicker to export and uses less storage but has poorer overall quality.

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Tips

During videos, the audience's eyes tend to drift over to the left side of the screen. So make surprises come from the left.

A person is usually on the left or right side of the screen, facing either the left or right. If someone is backing away to the right after just finding a dead body and facing the left, make the murderer come from the right.

Models: You want it to look like UFOs are attacking a city. Create a model of picture city, then hang decorated pie tins from fishing hooks above it. You want it to look like Godzilla is destroying the city. Create a city and Godzilla out of clay and stop motion animate it.

Stop Motion: There's person sitting in a chair and the magician goes "SNAP!" Keep everything in the room exactly the same, have someone come on and remove the chair, then begin filming again, having the person fall. When editing, put the two shots together.

Action movies: In Action movies, scenes cut really quickly. Show a scene of a guy running towards a gap, then quickly switch to a shot as if you are in the gap watching the person jump over, then quickly switch to the person landing on the other side.

SFX: Special Effects:

The Audience

Camera Angle: You want it to look like a guy is staring up at a giant skyscraper, but you only have a 10 inch (25.4 cm) model of the building. Place the kid really far away and kind of do an over the shoulder shot, but with the shoulder being the skyscraper.

Warnings

Beware of the horrible happening when you accidentally press the record button between shots, then shut it off when you start to film the scene, and on again when it's finished.